Chapter Forty-Four
Garett
Flora slips into my passenger seat. She wrings her hands as soon as she’s clicked in the seatbelt.
“It’s going to be okay. They want you there, Flora.” My stomach bubbles with excitement and anxiety for the Christmas Cloud Burst.
“I know, but I’m not used to being welcomed by a family. Aside from you, I haven’t had anyone in years.” Her parents barely recognised her presence above their business adventures, and Clive is a chip off the old block. “I’ve never had a proper family Christmas celebration before.”
“It will be great, and you’ve brought something.”
“Who doesn’t love Christmas biscuits?” She opens the tin, and I chuckle. Father Christmas is missing an eye, and the Christmas tree looks drunk. She explains each messy biscuit to me and retells all the incidents that brought them to their present state.
“They’re awesome, Flo.”
“You haven’t called me that since Clive ruined you. So you’re moving to Ireland, then.”
Driving helps me because I can focus on the road and not her puppy dog face, which she’ll make, though she doesn’t want to. “Yes. I have to. I handed my resignation letter to Amber this morning. She asked me to stay, but she understood when I explained my new job.” I tap the steering wheel and clear my throat. “As the cookery school isn’t opening in January, and I’ve got the contacts for them, there shouldn’t be much upheaval.” I didn’t give my Ruby-related reasons. I promised I wouldn’t
“Does Ruby know she’s one of the reasons why?”
A tractor pulls out in front of us, and I remember the day I met Ruby. I wanted her out of “my” cookery school, and yet she’s the best person for it. As much as I want her to win Clive’s competition for the money, I hope she doesn’t. Although her skills are in baking, she’s fantastic at the school and she should have her own baking business.
We crawl behind the tractor, and I glance at Flora. I owe her so much, and avoiding her pain isn’t the action of the man I want to be. “She knows I’m going because we can’t be together. She also knows it’s because I want to work in a restaurant, and I can’t do that here because of a former business partner.”
“And does she know that business partner is my brother?” I grind my teeth. The tractor takes its time. “I’ll take that as a no.”
The chugging vehicle finally turns into a field, and I continue driving to the school.
We pass the pub. It looks like someone knocked the For Sale sign down. I pull into the school’s car park. Candles lead to the doorway. Once darkness comes, they’ll give the place a fantastic atmosphere. A giant inflatable penguin that’s had half the air knocked out of it bounces, too. It wouldn’t surprise me if that were done on purpose. I love this family.
Neither of us moves after I turn the van off. I make a mental note to hand over the keys to it tomorrow. Ruby has promised to care for Cookie until I can arrange to bring him to Ireland.
“You’re setting Ruby up to be used as brutally as Clive used you,” Flora says, taking my trembling hands. “What if he steals her ideas?”
I stare out of the windscreen at the pub. Seeing that place was a catalyst for my decisions, but they’re choices I wouldn’t have to make if it wasn’t for Clive’s betrayal. But as much as I hate the guy, I wouldn’t have met Ruby without him.
“I’m going to tell her after the competition and before I go so that she can make her mind up for herself. And don’t forget that she has support. There are people around her ready to protect her at any point, and some of those people know about Clive even if she doesn’t. I’ll speak to her parents when I say goodbye to Cookie tomorrow, and then once she wins, which she will do because she’s a baking revelation, I’ll tell her.”
“But—”
“She won’t be alone,” I reply firmer. “She has people. I didn’t have anyone.”
“You had me.” Flora’s voice wavers and tears brim her eyes.
“Shit. Of course I did, and I still have you, and you have me.” I pull her into my arms and she cries against me. “You’ll always have me, and I hope you feel the same. You can live with me in Ireland if you want. You’re my family, and I love you, Flora.”
“I love you, too,” she replies her tears stilling. “No one knows me like you do.”
I squeeze her tighter. “I wish lots of people knew the real you and saw how amazing you are.” I don’t know what it will take for Flora to fully let people in. Hopefully, one day, she’ll be surrounded by friends and understand how incredible she is, if that’s what she wants.
I sense movement outside the car. Ruby waits for me. The silver jewels on her navy blue jumpsuit sparkle in the sunlight. Her waves crowd her shoulders, the gold ribbons adding to her angelic look. She’s a vision.
I love her.
I’ve thought it before, but I’ve never been more certain of anything. She steps back. She knows I’m needed at this moment.
“Go to her,” Flora says.
“No. I need you to know I’m here for you no matter what. You’re my family.”
Flora hugs me. “I know, big bro. But it doesn’t hurt to hear it once in a while.” A hiccup bursts from her mouth. “I love you, Garett. You’re my big brother, and without you, I’d be a mess. But right now, you need to go to her. I’m going to tidy myself up.”
I stay for a couple of seconds, making sure she means it. Flora’s always had my best interests at heart, but her firm stare tells me to go more than her words could.
I step out of the van.
Ruby stares at me with her big brown eyes. “Is she okay?”
“She will be.”
“I’ll look after her when you’ve gone. She’ll be my favourite little sibling. I’ll tell Jem he can go swivel.”
She’s holding it together. We’re all holding it together. “No more talk about me leaving, okay? Not today.”
“Promise.”
“You’re breathtaking. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
“And sexy?”
“If I weren’t worried about ruining my trousers before the Christmas Cloud Burst, I’d be on my knees in this car park, declaring your sexiness for the world to hear.”
She steps into my open arms. “Best not. Mum and Dad don’t need to hear that, and I don’t want Wicksy making suggestions about your dirty knees.” Passion fruit fills my lungs, marking them with her scent and presence. She presses the squeaky reindeer nose on the Christmas jumper she bought for me. “Cute.”
“Not sexy or breathtaking?”
“You’re no Mary Berry.”
I press my lips to hers. “I can’t compare to that goddess.”
The van door opens, and Flora shouts, “Come on, you two. We’ve got a dinner to attend.”
I open my hand to her, and Ruby steps to my side. We agreed that we’d act like colleagues and friends at the party. My body chills at losing her touch. I’d better get used to it because I’ll have a lifetime without her.
◆◆◆
Cookie bounces from person to person as we set the table for the meal. Everyone sings Christmas songs, and Iain and Liz whip each other with any tea towel they can find.
Kalen clucks over Amber, who is nearly nine months and not far from being induced, and she keeps shoving him away and telling him, “I can do it. Stop mothering me.” She then sits with her feet up while making him bring things to her.
Kath and I sit together, watching the spectacle of a Cloud Christmas. Flora, Jem, and Wicksy perform Michael Bublé classics together when they’re supposed to be place setting. I wouldn’t be surprised if both men have crushes on her.
I’m so proud of my little sister. Knowing I won’t be here to protect her from all that life throws at her causes another crack in my heart. But as Ruby says something to her and she giggles, I’m reminded that she won’t be alone.
“You’re leaving us, aren’t you?” Kath asks as Amber throws something at Jem. I bet they were exhausting growing up, especially with Ruby’s lively grandparents. It must have been a wonderful chaos.
“How did you know?” I shove up my sleeves. “Let me guess. Because you’re a wise woman who knows when it will snow before weather forecasters?”
She chuckles and nudges me. Her elbows are like spikes. “Nah, I caught Ruby crying when I went to help her tidy the hideaway.”
That hurts, but I shouldn’t be surprised. “She’ll cope okay without me.”
“I know. She’s strong.”
Ruby tickles Jem. Then Kalen picks Jem up and carries him to Amber so she can help, too.
“Be aware that sometimes everything changes, and you must change with it.”
I glance at Kath, who’s chuckling at the tickling fight. “Is that one of your wise woman sayings?”
She shakes her head. “No. Let’s say I know things you don’t, and the next two days aren’t going to go according to your plan.”
Liz calls everyone to the table before I can ask what she means.